Project Updates
Get the latest information on MultiCare Covington Medical Center as it progresses from blueprint to brand new medical center.
Watch for construction updates, photos, actual live updates from our construction cam and articles about the exciting innovations, green design and construction that are being incorporated into the MultiCare Covington Medical Center.
Department of Health Approves Application
On December 21, 2010 the Washington State Department of Health approved our application for 58 inpatient hospital beds. MultiCare is excited about the opportunity to expand our services to meet the needs of our patients in South King County.
More detailed planning work will begin right away. Meanwhile, construction work will begin on the Covington Emergency Department in February, which is expected to open in early 2012.
Emergency Department Ground Breaking Ceremony
Please join us in celebrating the ground breaking for the new MultiCare Covington Emergency Department:10am – 11am
MultiCare Covington Clinic
Enjoy refreshments and musical entertainment
This new freestanding emergency department is designed to meet the health care needs of our growing community. Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the new 24,000 square foot emergency department will be able to treat your medical emergencies close to your home. The emergency department is scheduled to open in early 2012.
Department of Health Decision Coming Soon
MultiCare has received word from the Department of Health (DOH) that the decision on the application for a hospital in Covington has been postponed until November 8, 2010. The additional time will allow the DOH to finalize the evaluation.
We will keep you informed of any announcements as they happen. Thank you for your support.
Thanks for your Support
The Department of Health held a public hearing on Thursday, August 5, to consider three CON applications. The other two applicants are Auburn Regional Medical Center, which is proposing to add 70 acute care beds, and Valley Medical Center, which is proposing to add 60 acute care beds. Both would add beds to their existing facilities. MultiCare is the only applicant who is proposing to build a new hospital in Covington that would provide 58 inpatient beds.
We had a very successful hearing, and our patients, the community and physicians clearly spoke of the need for a hospital in Covington. We had an amazing turnout, and we truly thank all of you for your unwavering support.
“We strongly demonstrated that we want a hospital in Covington and everyone’s support played a critical part in us having such a successful public hearing,” said Hugh Kodama, South King County Administrator.
The public hearing room was packed for most of the day with MultiCare supporters. Support has been strong since the plan for a new hospital was announced. Many letters and petition signatures supporting the proposal were submitted to the Department of Health. CEO Diane Cecchettini, Good Samaritan President John Long and other MultiCare leaders also attended the day-long hearing.
The Department of Health is expected to announce their decision in October. We are very hopeful that the Department of Health will approve Covington Medical Center’s application for our 58-bed hospital.
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH PUBLIC HEARING SCHEDULED
The Washington State Department of Health is holding a public hearing on Thursday, Aug. 5th that is crucial in determining how southeast King County residents will receive health care in the future. You can help impact this decision.The state’s review of our application includes the opportunity for public comments. You can provide your opinions on MultiCare’s application for a new hospital at Covington as well as applications by Valley Medical Center and Auburn Regional Medical Center to add beds at their existing facilities. Of the 3 competing applications, MultiCare’s is the only plan that brings a new hospital to Covington. This central location will best provide local access to much needed acute care health services.
Providing your thoughts on MultiCare’s application is particularly important since it is likely the Health Department will approve only one applicant’s proposal.
Learn how you can support MultiCare at the public hearing.
July 13 Public Hearing on new Town Center zoning
On July 13, 2010 at 7pm the Covington City Council will hold a public hearing on the proposed new zoning regulations developed by the Covington Planning Commission.
Among other provisions, the new zoning regulations would not allow an Emergency Department or hospital to be built within the boundaries of the new Town Center (behind Safeway and Fred Meyer). At MultiCare, we support the draft regulations since they reflect the original vision for the Town Center developed by citizens over the course of several years. We agree with the Planning Commission that these types of facilities would not fit well with the mix of retail stores, restaurants and open space planned for the new Town Center.
MultiCare is planning to build a new 24-hour Emergency Department on the site of our current Covington Clinic
For more information on the City’s Town Center plans, please visit http://www.ci.covington.wa.us
More than 100 People Share Views on New MultiCare Covington Medical Center
On April 14, 2010, more than 100 people gathered at the Cedar Heights Middle School for a town hall meeting on the new MultiCare Covington Medical Center. The meeting was intended to offer South King County residents an overview of the project, get input from the attendees and answer questions.
Enthusiastic support for comprehensive health care, close to home
The new medical center promises to be an enormous asset to the South King County community. “This medical center will provide the right level of care, at the right time, in the right place, at the right cost,” said Dr. Smokey Stover, senior vice president of MultiCare Medical Associates. It will have full access to MultiCare’s award-winning Electronic Health Records system, telemedicine capabilities and the full range of medical specialists and treatment technologies that are part of the MultiCare system.
After brief introductory remarks from MultiCare, the participants broke into small groups to discuss plans for the new MultiCare Covington Medical Center and new emergency room coming in early 2012. “It would be a big deal to have an emergency room in the community,” said one participant. “The timing of getting treatment is very important.”
Other participants focused on the inconvenience of leaving the community to seek health care. “We drove our son to see specialists in Seattle for years and we would have loved to have been able to bring him to a physician close to home,” said one attendee.
Another participant said, “Going to Valley Medical Center and Auburn Regional is really a hassle because of traffic. Adding beds to Auburn or Valley does not meet the needs of the residents of the Covington area who want and need local care.”
Participants weigh-in on their medical center
A number of the town hall participants had ideas about the kinds of services and capabilities they’d like to see at the MultiCare Covington Medical Center.
These included:
- Care and services for an aging population as well as young families in the area
- Chronic disease management and care
- Expanded cardiac care
- Expanded preventive care, diabetes treatment, nutrition classes and fitness services
- Rehabilitative care
- Environmentally sustainable design, building materials and construction
- Well-managed traffic and parking
While the MultiCare Covington Clinic currently provides some of these services, including additional services for aging patients, the addition of a new medical center with overnight beds will allow for a much broader range of medical and surgical treatment options. It will also mean that patients in the emergency room who need further observation or overnight care can be admitted to the adjacent hospital rather than transferring to another hospital.
In regard to traffic and parking, MultiCare is working with state and local governments to make improvements to area roads and is purchasing land near the existing clinic to expand parking for the new medical center.
Town Hall Meeting Scheduled
Town Hall Meeting Tuesday, April 14 • 6 –8pmCedar Heights Middle School • 19640 SE 272nd Street, Covington
Refreshments provided.
Come learn more about our plans including:
Freestanding Emergency Room: The first phase of the project will be a freestanding emergency room capable of treating a full-range of medical emergencies 24 hours a-day, 7 days-a-week. The new emergency room is scheduled for completion in late 2011 or early 2012.
New Medical Center: The new MultiCare Covington Medical Center, which must be approved by the state Department of Health, will include a state-of-the-art childbirth center, pediatric services and specialists from Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital and 58 hospital beds for inpatient care.
Please RSVP to covingtonmedicalcenter@multicare.org or 253-372-7274.
Certificate of Need Update
March 12, 2010We have made significant progress on our application to the State Department of Health to build a hospital in Covington and bring more health services to the community. Two other hospitals have also filed applications to add more beds at their existing locations in Renton and Auburn. But MultiCare is the only comprehensive health care system proposing to build a NEW hospital in Covington to serve south King County.
We hope to hear from the State Department of Health soon about when the Public Comment period will begin and when a Public Hearing will be held in the community. In the meantime, we are reaching out to community groups and leaders to inform and engage them in our efforts.
We are planning a community Town Hall meeting for April in Covington. We will email a formal invitation soon.
Progress Update
Feb. 12, 2010
Before we can build the hospital, we must first receive permission from the Washington State Department of Health. The Department has a complicated process to determine if there is need for additional hospital beds in the South King County area. If they determine there is need in the community, they then must decide which hospital will be allowed to provide additional beds. Because we are not the only hospital to submit an application for additional beds (both Valley Medical Center and Auburn Regional Medical Center have also applied), this is likely to be a competitive process.
We believe there is a great need in the community, and we believe MultiCare has the best plan to serve our community. We are the only applicant proposing to build a NEW facility in South King County; the other hospitals plan to expand their existing facilities. Our application is the only proposal seeking to bring comprehensive care closer to the residents of areas such as Covington, Maple Valley, Black Diamond and parts of Kent and Auburn.
We will continue to update you on the Department of Health's process and will urge you to get involved when the public comment period is opened.
An Open Letter to the Community
January 22, 2010For nearly 20 years, MultiCare has been providing a broad range of health services to the residents of South King County. Our ongoing goal is to provide you and your family comprehensive, quality health care close to home.
Since we opened our doors nearly two decades ago, our community has grown substantially. This growth means an increased need for health care services, for our growing senior population as well as the young families in the area.
MultiCare is planning to meet this growing need:
- The first phase of the project is a freestanding Emergency Room in Covington. These new emergency services in Covington will be available 24 hours-a-day, 7 days-a-week and will be capable of treating a full range of emergencies.
- Pending approval from the Washington State Department of Health, MultiCare will open a new medical center in 2014. This facility will be built on the existing MultiCare Covington Clinic site and, when complete in 2015, will have 58 hospital beds.
We’re proud to be your health care partner and part of this community. To learn
more about our plans, sign up for our email newsletter to stay informed about our progress, or call us at 253-372-7274.